Method and means for treating leaf tobacco



July ,6; 1937,

METHOD Filed Oct. 11, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 FRANK Pam/m gvww'wboo 7 July 6, 1937. F. P. SMITH METHOD AND MEANS FOR TREATING LEAF TOBACCO Filed 001,11, 19:52 10 sheets she t 2 J 5Q N .mN m J h K g g MM & gr 1 Q 3 w& w N3 7 w.. kw r03 F R Q8 Q3 @V I w E 9v r r 00 R, I um. 36m Q \Q\ m w Q m MS Q3 t D A K 1 @Q J 0 av. T Ry m m mam J 4 m 6% QM QM L E F m&\ e ww m 0 MN\ MN R QB mw mm #0 Q0 Q0 MW ,5 g k a METHOD AND MEANS FOR TREATINGLEAF TOBACCO Filed Oct., 11, 1932 7 1O Sheets-Sheet 3 FRANK P SM/ TH July 6, 1937. F. P. SMITH 2,086,194,

METHOD AND MEANS FOR TREATING LEAF TOBACCO Filed Oct. '11, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 F RHNK PSM/TH arm/0mm y 6, 1937- F. P. SMITH METHOD AND MEANS FOR TREATING LEAF TOBACCO Filed Oct. 11, 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 idvJnVM/fllvlldv rl/lldridun adlldufd July 6, 1937. RF. SMITH METHOD AND MEANS FOR TREATING LEAF TOBACCO 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 11, 1932 F. P. SMITH 2,086,194

METHOD 'AND MEANS FOR TREATING LEAF TOBACCO July 6, 1937.

Filed Oct. 11; 1932 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 W o 5M M K d Du R F.

m\ bx O Qmv W NW July 6, 1937. F. P. SMITH 2,086,194

METHOD AND MEANS FOR TREATING LEAF TOBACCO Filed Ot. 11, 1932 1o, Sheets-Sheet s Fknnk -jMlTH 31 vucm kw July 6, 1937. .F. P. SMITH 4 METHOD AND MEANS FOR TREATING LEAF TOBACCO Filed Oct. 11, 1932 1o sheets-sneet's I47 If 1 Z7 95 .95 I00 9 20 2 July 6, 1937.

F. P. SMITH METHOD AND MEANS FOR TREATING LEAF TOBACCO Filed Oct. 11, i932 l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 I16 ll? Patented uly 6, .1937

METHOD mi) MEANS FOR TREATING LEAF TOBACCO Frank 'P. Smith, Winston-Salem, N. 0.,asslgnor to n. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Winston- Salem, N. 0., a corporationcof New Jersey Application October 11, 1932, Serial No. 637,287

24- Claims. (01431-55) This invention relates to a method and means for ordering and purifying leaf tobacco. As is well known by those skilled in the art of hantiling leaf tobacco, a certain amount of humidity ,is necessary in the atmosphere to which the leaf tobacco is exposed in order for the leaves of tobacco to be handled, without breaking to pieces, sometimes referred to as crumbling. In the preparation of leaf tobacco for the market, the handling of leaf tobacco is done only at times of the day, or on days in which there is a great deal of humidity in the air to cause the tobacco leaves to be pliable and capable'o'f being handled without damage thereto.

.It is an object of this invention to provide an improved machine for imparting to the tobaccothe desired degree of moisture to cause theleaf tobacco to be easily handled without damage after it leaves the machine and passes onto other tobacco working machinery such as jclriers, crimp cut machines, granulating machines and the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide.a machine thru which the leaves of tobacco are passed and in which machine the leaf tobacco is subjected to atmospheric conditions which not only cause the leaves of tobacco to come out at the discharge end of the machine in proper pliable condition and suitable for future handling, but which also purifies the tobacco by removing therefrom harmful ingredients.

The machine is so constructed as to prevent these removed impurities from condensing on parts of the machine and falling onto the to.- bacco when it travels therethrough.

The machine is so arranged and so provided with novel features as to cause the tobacco to be subjected to the proper amount of humidity and heat and to prevent the humidity from being condensed within the machine.

provides means whereby the humidity is condensed outside of the machine and the impurities thus condensed are removed from the machine and reclaimed for further use as disinfectants and the like.

45 By use of .the' improved machine hereinafter described and shown in the drawings, leaf tobacco can easily. be ordered uniformly and quickly to the desired degree, by this machine without any 'dripping of undesirableand harmful condensed 50 vapors on the tobacco. The fact that no condensation of "harmful vapors drips onto the to.- bacco treated in-this new machine, gives the machine a great advantage over other machines of this character. The new. machine is so constructed that these harmful vapors are with- This machine drawn to the outside of the machine and there condensed. a

The leaf tobacco is ordered and purified by fresh vapors that are made of proper conditions of temperature and humidity in special compart- 5 ments in the machine. ,These vapors of proper conditions, not only quickly and uniformly bring the tobacco to-the desired degree of, flexibility, but remove harmful ingredients from the to-, bacco to condense the same outside of the mal0 chine. Due to the construction of the machine, the vapors have a circulation that is perfect for ordering and purifying the tobacco and for keeping the'machine dry on the inside. This ma-' chine may be referred to as a vapor machine 15 since the tobacco is ordered, purified, and delivered from the machine without any wet spots occurring thereon on account of the fact that the vapors are properly circulated within the machine and are not allowed to condense therein. 20

The machine having sloping insulated roofs, keeps the machine free from condensation. The mixing chamber for steam and air being disposed on the outside of the machine prevents any condensation from getting onto the tobacco. The

machine, being insulated, uses less steam. The

.fans, not being insulated, condense the vapor after it is drawn thru' the tobacco and thus take out the foreign matter to reclaim the foreign matter in liquid form outside of the machine for furdripping 'onto the tobacco are eliminated. The

downwardly onto the asphalt .base.

theruse, for. disinfecting purposes and the like, and the same airis used over and over by having moisture added thereto. I a

Heretofore, in machines of this type for treating tobacco the roof portions have not been insidewalls. are shown asbeing made of wood, which also is an insulating medium to a certain extent. It is evident, however, that these sidewalls couldj'be of other material, as anycondensate which might form thereon would flow This machine, therefore, has a two-fold purpose, namely, the imparting to the tobacco of the desireddegree of moisture tofacilitate its subse-.-

quenthandling and also thesaturation .of the 5 tobacco with the mixture of steam and air to remove from the tobacco certain impurities and to reclaim these impurities on the exterior of the machine, thus preventing their mixture with the tobacco itself. It also provides a special compartment for heating the leaf tobacco to cause bunches thereof to open up to cause it to be more thoroughly treated in the subsequent compartments.

One peculiar feature of this machine is that although it appears that the upwardly moving draft would lift-portions of the tobacco oi? the been stated, the invention will appear more fully when explained hereafter, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of one end of the machine;

Figure 1A is an elevation of the other end portion of the machine;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the opposite side of Figure 1A with parts broken away;

Figure 2A is a side elevation of the opposite side as shown in Figure 1 with parts broken away;

Figure 3, is a top plan view of the the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3A is a top plan view of the portion of the machine shown in Figure l'A;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken along the center of the machine but showing the fan housings; and ducts leading thereto in elevation, with parts brokenaway;

Figure 4A is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken along the center line with the fan housings and ducts leading thereto, partly in elevation, with parts broken away;

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view taken immediately below the conveyor belt in Figure 4 Figure 5A is a sectional plan view taken immediately below the conveyor belt in Figure 4A;

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Figure 3-;

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view portion of taken along the line 1-1 in Figure 3A;

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in Figure 3A;

Figure 9 is an enlarged detailed view of thetop portion of a pair of sloping covers for one.

of the compartments showing a portion of the ducts which leads to one of the-fans.

Referring more specifically to the drawings,

itwill be noted that a suitable base I!) is provided which is preferably made of asphalt as it causes less condensation in the vapors within the machine and is heat-retaining, so the heat is retained in the base when the machine is stopped over night. Each of these bases has a plurality of sumps therein, there being a sump below each of the vapor compartments of the machine, and the sumps are indicated by reference,v characters H. |2, l3, and I4. Each 'of these sumps has suitable drain holes |5,. |6, I1, and I8. These holes l5 to l8 inclusive are connected to a suitable drainage system which is not shown. It will be noted in Figures 4A and 5A that the last compartment on the right, being a cooling compartment, does not have any sumps therein on account of the fact that such are not believed to be necessary.

Mounted on the asphalt base In is a plurality of longitudinally disposed'strips 28, on one side thereof and such strips are'indica'ted by reference ends support the longitudinally disposed strips 25. Disposed between the vertically disposed members 24 are a plurality of cross members 26 and disposed between vertically disposed members 22 are a plurality of cross members 21;

These members serve to form the framework of the sidewalls of the machine.- To the members 20, 24, 25, and 26 are secured the sidewalls of the machine which are shown in the form of boards 29. ordinary plank and the like, but they are shown as being large boards secured to the members 20, 24, 25, and 26, forming a sidewall of the machine which is more emcient than a metallic sidewall,

on account of preventing condensation of the vapors within the machine. Boards 30 are secured to the framework members 2|, 22, 23, and 21 to form a sidewall for the other side of the machine. Angularly disposed cross strips 32, 33,

- 34, 35, 36, 31, 38, and 39 are provided on one side of the. machine between the vertically disposed members 24, for supporting one side of the sloping roof structure for the compartments as will be presently described.

On the otherrside of .the machine these angularly disposed members for supporting the other end of the sloping roof structure of the machine are indicated by reference characters 40, 4|, 42, 43, 44, 45, and 46, it being evident that some of these angularlydisposed members are located behind thesteam chambers in the elevations and therefore are not shown. Enough of such members are shown to indicate that the sloping roof structures are supported therein by suitable arrangement of the angularly disposed members in the sidewalls of the machine.

The two sidewalls are secured together at the upper edges thereof by having a plurality of cross members 59, 5|, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 51, 58, 59, 68, 6|, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 61, 68, 69, 10', TI, 12, and 13 resting on top thereof with end members 14 and 14a secured between the top members 23' and 25. A plurality of.cross members 16, 11, 18, 19, 88, and

- 8| are mounted for securing the bottom portion of the sidewalls together, these cross members 16 to 8| resting on the asphalt base It).

Secured at the intake end of the machine is I a pair of bearing members 83 and 84, in which are It is evident that these boards could be. of

of roller or drum erably made of coarse-mesh, woven wire for moving the leaf tobacco thru the machine.

The tension of endless belt 93 is regulated by adjustable bearings shown in the brackets .in which the rollers are mounted. A plurality of rollers 95 are transversely disposed throughout the machine and are rotatably mounted in the sidewalls of the machine for supporting the upper portion of the endless belt and similar rollers 96 are provided, likewise, for supporting the lower portion of the belt. Breaker rolls 91 and 98 are mounted in suitable adjustable bearing brackets 99 at their ends for adjusting the position of the endless bel'f93.

The machine is divided into five compartments, designated by A, B, C, D, and E, and the lower halves of these compartments are separated from each other by suitable walls formed of boards I and IM secured to transverse members I02, 16, 11, 18, 19, and 80. These walls formed of members I00 and IM have a transversely disposed slot therein thru which endless belt 93 passes. Inspection door I04 is provided for compartment A and inspection door I is provided for compartment B. Likewise, inspection door I06 is pro vided for compartment C and inspection door- I01 is, provided for compartment D. Immediately above the upper edge of the partitions formed by members I00 and'IOI, there is an opening I08 between the compartments and this opening is closed by a; flexible member such as a thick piece of canvas I01 secured to cross member H0 and having its lower edge in close proximity to endless belt 93, which allows the tobacco to be car- 'ried along by the belt and at the same time cuts off communication between the chambers as nearly as is possible.

In addition to the members in each group including a member. I I0 there are intermediate members I I I and to the lower surface of members H0 and I II as well as a crossmember secured on top of the framework'and each of which is indicated by a difierent reference character, heretofore enumerated, is secured a board I I2 and on the upper edges of these transversely disposed members are secured insulating means such as a plurality of layers of insulating board, the layers being indicated by reference characters I I3; II4, and I I5 in Figure 9. The insulating members as a whole arev referred to by H8 in the other portions of the drawings.

The description of compartment A, as to the roof structure, likewise, applies to the other compartments and similar reference characters apply. r

Between members 5I and 52 and communicating with the upper portion of compartment A is secured a draft duct II1 which is insulated as at H9 in Figure 9 in the same manner as the top of the sloping roof of each compartment and indicated broadly as at 3. These ducts H1, at their other end, communicate with a centrifugal fan casing II9 mounted on cross members 53 and '54 and driven by a suitable pulley I20. A suitable centrifugal. fan is mounted in fan casing shown and in some portions thereof the casings are shown in sections revealing a fan I2I, said fan being identical in all of the fan casings.

From the other side of the fan casings, Figure 3, a duct I22 extends to the top of mixing or vapor chamber I23 formed onthe side of the machine and having sidewalls I24 and I25.

An inspection door I28 isvmounted in sidewall I24 and communicates withthe lower portion of compartment A, thru opening I21. (See Fig. 6.)'

A longitudinally disposed perforated pipe I28 compartment A, the use of a saturated steam at approximately 100-pounds pressure at a temperv ature of 338 degrees Fahrenheit gives good results,

whichcauses the tobacco to be heated and saturated to make it open up so it will become satu rated quickly. The above pressure and temperature may be varied greatly but best results are obtained by using approximately the temperature and pressure as above recited.

It is thus seen that in compartment A, steam is introduced into the vapor chamber and this is mixed with air impelled thru duct I22 and the air.

and steam mix in vapor chamber I23 and pass thru openings I21 into compartment A beneath the endless belt 93 and is drawn upwardly thru the tobacco, striking the sloping surfaces I I2, and then up thru the fan. It is seen that any condensation which may take place will necessarily be in the vapor chamber or in the lower part of the machine, in which event, no damage will be done to the tobacco. The saturated vapor passing thru the tobacco and causing the tobacco to Y become heated, opened and saturated then strikes against the members II2, preferably made of wood and insulated by members 8; therefore.

no condensation occurs by the striking of the vapors against the sloping portions H2 and this saturated vapor, bearing with it impurities 'extracted from the tobacco, is carried into the fan casing I I9 and there condensation occurs because the fan casing is not insulated. A pipe I32 communicates with'the lowermost portion of fan casing I I9 and is led to. a sump I33 having a valve I34 in the lower end thereof from whence the 1mpurities can be removed at will.

Vapor chamber I35 is disposed alongside vapor chamber I 23 and comprises outer sidewall portion I36 and I31 and is insulated and separated from chamber I23 by means of the end walls I38 for chamber I23 and I39 of chamber I35. Chamber I35 also has its end wall I40 which is integral with division wall I00. The outside walls of vapor chambers I23 and I38 are supported by a framework comprising vertically disposed supports I4I mounted on strips I4Ia and longitudinally disposed members I42 and angular members I43, the. angularinembers having spacedtherefrom insu lating top portions I44 similar to the insulation sheets II8 heretofore described.

'Vapor chamber I35 has an inspection door I45. Disposed within vapor chamber I35 is a longitudinally extending perforated pipe I48 which is connected to a pipe I 41 extending to the exterior of the machine having a valve I48 therein which has connected to the other side thereof a pipe I49 which supplies steam to chamber B. The steam in pipe I49 is saturated ste'am which has a lower pressure and a lower degree of heat than superheated steam. I have found that best results are obtained by using a steam in compartments B, C. and Data pressure of8 pounds and having a temperature of 238 degrees Fahrenheit. It is evito suitvarious conditions. v

Openings I30 are provided in the lower sidewall .tdent that pressureand temperature-lean be varied 131 thru which saturated atmosphere can pass from vapor chamber I35 into lower portion of compartment B. The upper portion of compartment B has the sloping roof structure identical to the roof structure as previously described for compartment A, and connected thereto is one end of an insulated duct I5I which has its other end connected tofan housing I52, identical to fan housing H9 having a similar centrifugal fan therein driven by pulley I20, as previously described. From one side of fan housing I52 a duct I53 is led into the upper portion of vapor or mixing chamber I35 so that it is seen that a circulation is maintained thru compartment B which moves upwardly in compartment B and' downwardly in vapor chamber I35 at all times in the same manner as in compartment A, which has previously been described- Fan housing I62 has a pipe I54 connected to the lowermost portion which connects to pipe I32 heretofore described thru which condensed vapor bearing impurities, is directed into the sump I33.

Compartments C and D are identical in all respects to compartment B and have adjacent thereto a pair of vapor chambers having a sidewall structure formed of vertical members I .mounted on strips I55a and longitudinal memconnected to the lower portion thereof a pipe I95 connected to a drain pipe I96 which empties into a sump I91 having a valve I98 in the lower portion thereof from which the condensation can be removed at will,

In the bottom of vapor chamber I59 are a plurality of openings I61 which allow saturated atmosphere to pass from chamber I59 into the lower portion of compartment C. Vapor chamber I59 has mounted therein perforated pipe I10 having connected thereto pipe I1I, which leads to the exterior of the vapor chamber I59. Pipe I1I has valve I12 therein which has connected to the other side thereof pipe I13 which is connected to main steam supply pipe I14. Vapor chamber I likewise has perforated pipe I15 therein having pipe I16 leading to the exterior of the machine. Pipe I16 has valve I11 therein with pipe I18 also being connected to pipe I13 for supplying steam to.compartment D.

Suitable inspection doors I68 and I69 are provided for vapor chambers I59 and I60 respectively. Vapor chamber I60 has openings I19 in the lower portion thereof communicating with the lower portion of. compartment D. The upper portion of compartment D'has a roof structure similar to the previously described compartments and has connected to the central portion thereof insulated duct I80. To the other end is' connected fan casing I8I having a suitable centrifugal fan therein, and one side of the fan casing I8I has an exhaust duct I82 leading into the top vapor chamber I60. Fan casing I8I has communicating with the lowermost portion therer of a pipe I99 which is also connected to drain pipe I96.

Compartment E is a cooling compartment and, therefore, has no vapor chamber associated therewith. The lower portion of each of the sidewalls of the machine has openings I83 therein thru which atmosphere is allowed to enter beneath the endless belt. The upper portion of this compartment is identical to the previous compartment, that. is, having sloping insulated roof portions, the upper portion of which is connected to insulated duct I84, whose other end is connected to fan casing I85 having a suitable fan therein driven by pulley I86 and the other side of fan casing I85 exhausts into the atmosphere as shown at I81. Fan casing I85 has secured to the lowermost portion thereof a drain pipe 20I which, likewise, is connected to drain pipe I96.

Each vapor compartment or mixing chamber has a thermometer associated therewith and the gauge of each thermometer is located on the exterior of the machine so the operator can observe the temperature within the vapor compartments. These thermometers are indicated by reference characters 202, 203, 206, and 205, there being a thermometer for each vapor or steam compartment. The fans I21 in casings I and I 8! are mounted on a shaft I 89-having thereon pulley I90. The fans in all of the fan casings described having the pulleys thereon as previously described are driven by suitable means such as belts I92 mounted on pulleys I93 on a drive shaft I94 disposed along or above the machine.

It is thus seen that as the leaf tobacco is fed into the machine, it can be placed therein in large quantities, because the temperature in compartment A being high and the steam pressure being high, it causes the tobacco to be heated while it is traveling thru compartment A to break apart so as to be more susceptible to the vaporized atmosphere to which it is subjected in the succeeding compartments. It is seen that on account of the peculiar roof structure which is insulated, as well as the sidewalls being made 1 of insulating material such as wood, and on account of the draft from bottom'to top in each compartment and on account of condensation of thehumidified air taking place in the fan casings that a more efficient machine is provided because this machine prevents drops of condensation from forming above the tobacco and dropping therein and thus damaging the tobacco.

tion, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Tobacco treating apparatus comprising a plurality of compartments disposed end to end and having relatively small openings establishing communication between each other, an endless belt for conveying leaf tobacco through said compartments, a mixing chamber for each compartment, means connecting the upper ends of said compartments and the upper end of said mixing chambers together, means connecting the lower 75.

, -with each otherat adjacent end portions, a,con-

p 2,088,194 end of each compartment with the lower end atmosphere and steam after it has passed upwardly through the tobacco in all of the compartments.

2. In a tobacco treating machine, an enclosed elongated box-like structure having a plurality of separated compartments therein, ,each of said compartmentshaving an opening in its endwalls communicating with adjacent compartments, an endless belt member disposed within said compartments, flexible closure means normally closing communication between said compartments, a vapor chamber disposed adjacent each compartment and having an opening in the lower portion thereof communicating with a compartment, converging roof members for each compartment, a duct connected to the. top of each compartment and also having its other end connected to the top of a vapor chamber, a. fan in each duct for withdrawing atmosphere from each compartment and introducing saturated steam into the vapor chamber, insulating means for all of said chambers, ducts and compartments, excepting said fan casings, thereby causing condensation of the vapors in the fan casings, and means for withdrawing the condensate from the fan casings. 3. A tobacco treating machine having a plurality of alined compartments and each compartment having an opening in opposed end walls communicating with adjacent compartments, means for normally closing communication between the compartments, an endless belt passing thru all of said compartments and thru said openings for conveying leaf tobacco thru said compartments, a circulatory system for each compartment comprising a vapor chamber located adjacent each compartment and having communication with the lower portion of its associated compartment, a sloping roof for each compartment, a duct leading from the top of each roof structure to the top of said vapor chamber, draft producing and cooling means disposed in each duct, means for introducing steam into each vapor chamber, said chambers, ducts and compartments being insulated to cause the impurities in the atmosphere to be condensed in the draft producing means, and means for allowing the condensate to flow from the draft producing means.

4. A tobacco treating machine having a plu-v rality of alined compartments having relatively small openings establishing communicationbetween the compartments, means for conveying leaf tobacco successively thru said openings and all of said compartments, means for introducing saturated heated atmosphere into the lower poition of each compartment, means for withdrawing the atmosphere from the top of each compartment, and means for condensing'the moisture in the atmosphere outside the compartments and returning the atmosphere to the lower portion of the compartment from' which it was drawn.

5. A tobacco treating machine having a plurality of alined compartments communicating tinuous belt disposed in all of said compartments for conveying leaf tobacco therethrough, each of said compartments having a vapor chamber ascompartmenthaving associated therewith a mixmixing chamber associated with each compart- 5 sociated therewith and communicating with the lower portion of each compartment, means for introducing saturated steam and atmosphere into each of said vapor chambers, suction means for drawing the saturated and heated atmosphere 1 from said vapor chambers into the lower portion of each compartment and out of the top of each compartment and back into the top of the vapor chamber, and means on the outside of the compartments for. condensing impurities in the atmosphere drawn through the machine.

6. A machine for treating leaf tobacco having a plurality of alined,'inteflcommunicating and adjacent compartments, a vapor chamber associated with each compartment, means for intro- 15 ducing saturated steam into each vapor chamber,

a means for drawing saturated atmosphere from said vapor chamber into the lower portion of each compartment and upwardly thrueach compartment and out of the top of each compartment and into the top of each vapor chamber, means for conveying the leaf tobacco successively thru the compartments, and means for condensing the moisture in theatmosphere drawn thru the compartments bei'org it is again introduced into the vapor chamber for thecon partment from whence it has been taken,

7; A machine for treating leaf tobacco and having a plurality of alined compartments communicating with each other, a mixing chamber associated with each compartment, means for introducing steam into each of said chambers, means --for withdrawing atmosphere from the topof a compartment and introducing it into the top of a chamber, means for conveying the atmosphere bottom of a .,compartment, and means located without said chambers and said compartments, for condensing moisture existing in the atmosphere when it is withdrawn from the top the compartment.

8. Inc; machine for treating leaf tobacco, comprising an elongated housing having a plurality of communicating compartments therein, each ing chamber, a fluid connection between the lower portions of each compartment and its associated mixing chamber, means for introducin saturated steam into each of said mixing chambers, combined suction-and pressure means for each compartment having its suction side connected to the top of a compartment andhaving its pressure side connected to the to'poof a mixing. chamber, means for conveying leaf tobacco thru said compartments, said chambers and compartments being insulated against outside atmosphere to thereby condenseimpurities in the suction and pressure means.

-9. In a machine for treating leaf tobacco and being provided with a plurality of separated compartments disposed end to end, means for conveying leaf tobacco successively thru said com-- partments, each compartment having a sloping insulated roofand having insulated sidewalls, a

ment and having communication with the lower portions of a compartment, means for introducing saturated steam into the mixing chambers, means for withdrawing atmosphere from the top of the compartments, comprising an insulated duct having its ends communicating with one of said compartments and ,one ofmsaid mixing chambers and a fan. in said duct having its casing exposed to atmospheric conditions to thereby condense moisture in the atmosphere drawn from 76 from thebottom of a mixing chamber into the the compartment to prevent the return of the moisture into the mixing chamber.

10. In a machine for treating leaf tobacco, a compartment, means for conveying leaf tobacco thru the compartment, a mixing chamber for the compartment, said mixing chamber and said compartment communicating with each other at the bottom portions, a duct leading from the top of the compartment into the top of the mixing chamber, draft producing and draft cooling means disposed in said duct and having a casing for said draft producing means, to thereby cause condensate to be formed in the casing, and means for draining said condensate from said casing.

11. In a machine for treating leaf tobacco comprising a compartment, a mixing chamber, means for releasing steam into the mixing chamber, the bottom portion of the compartment having an opening communicating with the lower portion of the mixing chamber, the upper porinsulated compartment, a mixing chamber having an opening in the lower portion thereof communicating with the lower portion of the compartment, means for conveying leaf tobacco longitudinally thru'the compartment, a duct connecting the upper portion of the compartment with the upper portion of the mixing chamber, means for releasing saturated steam into the mixing chamber, draft producing means in said duct adapted to withdraw air from the upper end of the compartment and force it into the upper end of the mixing chamber, cooling means associated with said draft producing means for cooling the air withdrawn from the compartment and thereby condensing the moisture therein to liberate impurities extracted from the tobacco and .means for withdrawing the condensate from the cooling means.

13. Ina machine for treating leaf tobacco, a compartment having its sidewalls insulated, an angularly disposed roof covering said compartment, means for insulating said roof, an insulated mixing chamber disposed adjacent to one side of said compartment and having an opening in the lower portion thereof communicating with the lower portion of the compartment, an insulated duct having one end thereof communicating with the upper portion of said compartment, a fan casing communicating with the other end of said duct, the outside of said fan casing being exposed to the atmosphere, a duct leading from said fan casing to the upper end of said mixing chamber, said fan casing being adapted to condense therein moisture from the atmosphere drawn upwardly thru said compartment.

14. That method of treating leaf tobacco which comprises subjecting an enclosed moving mass of leaf tobacco in a compartment to an upwardly moving draft of air having mixed therewith saturated steam, preventingcondensation of moisture on the upper walls of the compartment withdrawing the air from the top of the enclosed mass of tobacco and cooling the air to condense the moisture therein, then again mixing the air with saturated steam and again subjecting the leaf tobacco to the air mixed with saturated steam, then moving the mass of tobacco to another compartment and repeating the above de: scribed operations.

15. That process of treating leaf tobacco to remove therefrom harmful ingredients which comprises moving the tobacco through a compartment while subjecting the tobacco to air mixed with saturated steam, then cooling the air' to condense the moisture therein, reclaiming said moisture to prevent its contacting the tobacco, then again subjecting the cooled air to saturated steam to supply thereto the desired moisture content and again subjecting the tobacco to the moistened air, then passing the tobacco through another compartment and while the tobacco is moving, repeating the above described operations.

16. That method of treating leaf tobacco which comprises subjecting the tobacco to air mixed with steam heated to a point above 300 degrees Fahrenheit and having a pressure of above 75 pounds, then subjecting the tobacco to a draft of air mixed with a steam having a temperature of less than 250 degrees Fahrenheit and a pressure of less than 20 pounds per square inch.

17. That method of treating leaf tobacco which comprises subjecting the tobacco while moving through a compartment to an upwardly moving draft of air impregnated with saturated steam, then extracting at least a portion of the moisture from the air, then again impregnating the air with saturated steam and again introducing said impregnated air to said tobacco, then moving the tobacco through another compartment and repeating the above described operations.

18. That method of treating leaf tobacco which comprises providing a circulatory draft of air in a plurality of closed compartments, impregnating the air in each compartment with saturated steam to heat the same and to impart thereto a high moisture content, then passing the tobacco successively through said compartments to subject it to said impregnated drafts, then condensing and reclaiming the moisture from the air drawn from each compartment and again impregnating the said air with saturated steam and again subjecting the tobacco to said impregnated draft of air.

19. That method of treating leaf tobacco to remove impurities therefrom which comprises moving the tobacco through a plurality of compartments and passing a current of air treated with saturated steam thru the tobacco as it passes through each compartment, then withdrawing the air from each compartment-and cooling the air to condense moisture therein, then again treating the air for each compartment with saturated steam and again treating the tobacco with the saturated air.

20. That method of treating leaf tobacco which comprises moving the tobacco through an enclosure and subjecting the tobacco as it passes through the compartment to a mixture of air and saturated steam, withdrawing the mixture from the enclosure and cooling the same to extract therefrom the moisture content, then again mixing with the cooled air another charge of saturated steam and again subjecting the tobacco to the mixture of air and saturated steam, then moving the tobacco through another enclosure and repeating the above described operations. j

21. Tobacco treating apparatus comprising an elongatedcasing having a plurality of compartsame air with moisture and introducing it into ments connected by means of alined openings, each of said compartments having a sloping insulated roof for preventing condensation of moisture thereon, means for conveying tobacco 5 successively through said compartments, means for passing moistened heated air upwardly through said-compartments and outside the casing,.means for condensing the moisture in the air at a point outside 'the'casing, steam heated 1 chambers disposed outside the compartments and having openings communicating with the lower portions of thecompartments.

22. Means for treating tobacco comprising a compartment having a .sloping insulated roof,

1 means for supplying moistened heated air to the lower portion of the compartment, means for withdrawing the moistened heated air from the topof the compartment, means forcondensing the moisture in the air at a point outside the 20 compartment, and means for again charging the the lower portion'of the compartment.

23. Apparatus for treating leaf tobacco com- ,prising a closed compartment having sidewalls,

a bottom and a heat-insulated roof, means for forcing heated saturated air through saidcompartment and withdrawing the' air from' the compartment, means for subjecting the air while 1 outside the compartment to a cooling operationto remove moisture therefrom, means for again heating and saturating the air before it again enters the compartment.

24. Apparatus for treating leaf tobacco comprising a closed compartment having a heat-in-- sulated roof, means for saturating and heating air "and forcing the same through said comparte ment, means for de-humidifying the air after it has beenipassed through the compartment and before it againenters the compartment.

. FRANK P. SMITH. 

